Army embraces AI revolution, launches ‘boots to bytes’ plan

The Army has embraced artificial intelligence as part of its wider transformation to become a future-ready, data-driven force underpinned by automation and digitisation. The initiative, termed ‘boots to bytes’, draws from the long-held dictum of having soldiers on the frontline, or ‘boots on the ground’, and juxtaposes this with the new need for ‘terabytes’ of data to empower the soldier.

The transformation is built on three pillars — digitisation, automation and AI. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on November 28 released the plan, formally titled ‘Digitisation-3’.

The plan documents 100 applications organised under two themes. One of these, called ‘Digital Sena’, highlights 40 cutting-edge digitisation and automation initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency and logistics.

Among the key technologies being integrated is a UAV tethered to the ground, equipped with an electronic system capable of jamming enemy drones. Other major developments include an indigenous geographic information system (GIS) that leverages spatial data and advanced analytics to improve decision-making, planning and operational effectiveness. By integrating various data sources, it provides commanders with a common operating picture of the battlefield, terrain and logistics.

To become an AI-ready force, the Army is developing 60 AI-driven solutions, such as an indigenous ‘small language model’, and will deploy software using AI-as-a-Service. These tools underline how AI is transforming operations, surveillance, decision support and autonomous systems for faster cognition and superior battlefield decision-making.

A flagship project named ‘Ekam’ has also been designed to deliver indigenous, secure, military-specific AI solutions tailored to operational doctrines and classified datasets. These include state-of-the-art AI services such as document analysis, a military correspondence generator and translation tools. Phase II of ‘Ekam’ focuses on building the first indigenous large language model (LLM) for the Indian Army.

As part of its future technologies drive, the Army has also developed a ‘climatology’ application created through scientific collaboration. The system integrates more than 20 years of geospatial data drawn from over 35 parameters to deliver precise landslide and avalanche predictions.